Hajner remains focused

VARSITY - Wrestling - Metro Conference Championships

February 1, 2009|By Brentley Romine, Sentinel Staff Writer

Whether it was breaking his leg during a football game in 2007, rehabilitating for six months and missing his entire junior year, or hurting it again last summer and missing out on a chance to wrestle in Fargo, N.D., it's been an eventful two years for Cypress Creek's Nic Hajner.

But even with several screws and a plate in his leg still serving as a reminder, Hajner hasn't let it affect him and his goals on the mat, and he took another step toward the state finals by winning the 145-pound championship Saturday at the Metro Athletic Conference tournament.

FOR THE RECORD - **********CORRECTION OR CLARIFICATION PUBLISHED TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009**********An article on Page C14 of the Sunday Sports section misidentified the fourth-place finisher in the Metro Conference wrestling meet at Timber Creek High School. Apopka High placed fourth.******************************************************************************************

"The state championship is definitely on my mind, no excuses," said Hajner, who accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy at the start of his senior year.

"You can't let setbacks affect your attitude, even if they're pretty substantial. Even though you take one step back, that might lead you three steps forward."

Led by individual champions Nick Echeverri (152), Andrew Moravek (215) and Donovan Green (285), the Wolves fought off some tough competition to claim their second Metro Conference title in a row and third since 2004.

Edgewater had the most individual champions with four, as Terry Tran (112), Joe Guignol (119), Hugo Espinoza (130) and Deandre Kemp (160) all took first place.

University's T.J. Sturgeon (189) also took home a title, but his teammate Eugene Scott (285) lost a tough match against Green, who scored three points in the final overtime period to take home a 4-1 victory.